End-gate fastener.



E. H. PORATH.

END GATE FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-7,1914.

1,175,808. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

$5.5. I 4 o o l v V (7 I /0 L I 0 /9 m rzasos.

EDWARD H. PORA'IH. OF NEWELL, IOWA.

END-GATE FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11%, 3 191 8.

Application filed January 7, 1914. Serial No. 810,844.

T 0 (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD H. PORATH, acitizen of the United States, residing at Newell, in the county of BuenaVista, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and use ful Improvementsin End-Gate Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to improvements in wagons and particularly to endgates and fasteners therefor.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel fasteningmeans for the end gate which will not become released accidentally.

Another object is to provide a sectional end gate, one section of whichis provided with means for interlocking engagement with the fastener tohold the sections of the gate in rigid position.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the end gate and aportion of the wagon box. Fig. 2 is an elevation looking from the otherside of the end gate, the sides of the wagon box being shown in section.Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4: is an enlarged vertical section onthe line H of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, slightly enlarged,taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on theline 66 of Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to the accompany ing drawing, 10 and 11 representrespectively the sides of the wagon box which are provided with theusual vertical parallel cleats 12 and 13 respectively. Disposed betweenthe cleats is an end gate which is formed of the two sections 14- and 15connected by the hinges 16. The section 14 has secured to its outer facea member 17 which extends horizontally across the outer face of thesection 15, its free end being formed with a bifurcation 18. Secured tothe outer face of the free end of the member 17 and around thebifurcation is a plate 19, one portion of which has a stamped up stoplug 20, the purpose of which will appear later. Formed through thesection15 in registry with the bifurcation 18 is an opening 21, anddisposed through this opening is a bolt 22 carrying a cross handle 23 onthe outer end, and an oppositely extending lug 24 so formed as toreadily pass through the bifurcation. The other sides of the sec tions1% and 15 carry respectively the vertical battens 25 and 26, and securedto the rear face of the section 15 adjacent the batten 26 is a casing orhousing 27. This housing has a flange 28 which extends over the outerface of the batten 26 and is secured thereto. Disposed through the upperpor tion of the section 15 and through the upper end of the housing 27is a bolt 29to which is secured one end of a coil spring 30. The bolt 21extends into the housing 327, and is provided with threads which engagein a threaded opening in a plate 31 secured to the section 15 within thecasing. Ihe threaded engagement of the bolt in the plate preventslongitudinal movement of the bolt, to such an extent as to obviate thenecessity of providing stop collars or the like. Disposed through theinner end of the bolt is a pin 32 provided with an eye 33 to which theother end of the spring 30 is connected by means of a link 34. The pinis so arranged that the spring 30 holds the bolt in such position thatthe handle extends vertically, and when the bolt is rotated by means ofthe handle and released, the spring will return the bolt so that thehandle will normally extend upwardly.

In the upper edge of the free end of the member 17 is formed a fingerhold notch 35 within which the fingers are engaged to pull the members17 away from the section 15 and swing the sections on their hinges.

In the normal operative position of the device, the member 17 liesagainst the outer face of the section 15 of the end gate, when the endgate is properly disposed between the cleats, and the outer end of thebolt 21 disposed in the bifurcation 18 transversely thereof with thehandle engaging the outer face of the member 17 at one side of thebifurcation and adjacent the lug 20, and the lug of the bolt engagingthe plate at the other side of the bifurcation. To release the end gate,the handle is grasped and the bolt rotated so that the handle and lugare disposed longitudinally in the bifurcation. By engaging the fingersin the notch 35, the member 17 can be pulled away from the section 15and break the joint of the sections. The end gate can then be morereadily removed. The spring 30- will return the handle into its normalvertical position as soon as it is released, and to reengage the parts,the handle must be turned into a horizontal position so that it willpass through the bifurcation of the member 17. lVhen the bolt isdisposedin the bifurcation and the handle released, the spring 30 willexert pressure to throw the handle around against the lug -20. The partsare thus held in proper engaged position, and cannot become accidentallydisengaged, the spring 30 effectively preventing any accidental rotationof the bolt which would permit the member 17 to move away from thesection 15.

lVhat is claimed, is c I Thecombination with an end gate having hingedsections, and a member secured to one of the sections and extendingacross the other section, the free end of the said memher beingbifurcated, of a rotatable bolt disposed through the said other sectionand provided with a transverse handle on the outer end, said handlebeing disposed crosswise of the bifurcation and bearing against theouter face of the said member, a casing on said last named section, aplate secured,

bolt whereby the bolt Will be normally rocked and held in such positionthat the handle extends across the bifurcation.

In testimony whereof, I afliix my signature, in the presence of twoWitnesses.

EDWARD H. PORAT H.

lNitnesses: V I

FRANK G. REDFIELD, W. PORATH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

